GreenByte recently released their “Evolution of Wind” infographic that illustrates the changes in global wind capacity from 1981 t0 2016. According to the time-lapse visualization, global wind power capacity has risen 11%, from 432.4 GW in 2015 to 486.7 GW in 2016. United States wind capacity increased 10% from 73,991 MW in 2015 to 82,184 MW in 2016.

The winds of the Blue (Abajo) Mountains have their ups and downs, but actually are almost always blowing. The town of Monticello, located off the northeast flanks has a telling road sign: “Cool Winds, Warm Welcome.”

These winds create the perfect place for a wind farm. In March 2016, the Latigo Wind Park became fully operational, sending 60 MW of power into the Rocky Mountain Power grid, enough to power 10,000-20,000 homes per year.

The U.S. Energy Department released a new report on Jan 9th, 2017 which confirms that adding even limited electricity transmission can significantly reduce the costs of expanding wind energy to supply 35% of U.S. electricity by 2050. The report, titled Reducing Wind Curtailment through Transmission Expansion in a Wind Vision Future and authored by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), affirms the findings of the Energy Department’s 2015 Wind Vision, which showed that a future in which wind provides 20% of U.S. electricity in 2030 and 35% in 2050 is achievable and would provide significant economic, energy security, and health benefits to the nation.

Arizona Corporation Commission Chairman Doug Little announced a proposal to double the state's Renewable Energy Standard to 30% by 2030, a significant increase from the existing 15% by 2025 requirement.

In 2015 Rocky Mountain Power filed an application with the Wyoming Public Service Commission to reduce the contract term for PURPA power purchase agreements with qualifying facilities from 20 to 3 years.

"New Mexico became the seventeenth state in the U.S. in December to surpass the 1,000-megawatt mark for installed wind energy capacity, following the startup of a 250-megawatt wind farm in Roosevelt County."

Last week, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe penned an op-ed in The Huffington Post to address false reports that the agency’s proposed rule changes would allow energy companies to legally kill thousands of bald eagles. “The notion that we intend to permit the killing of more than 4,000 bald eagles is wrong. Period.”